Image of zsGreen labelled human striatal neurons generated by direct cell reprogramming examined 8 weeks after transplantation into a rat model of Huntington’s disease. Green cells = human striatal neurons; red cells = rat striatal neurons; blue cells = nuclear stain. Work done by Laura Marriott, MSc
The Neural Reprogramming and Repair Group led by Prof Bronwen Connor has been awarded a grant of $287,036 from the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand to continue their research into Fragile X Syndrome (FXS). This project is being undertaken by PhD student Nicole Edwards in collaboration with Associate Professor Mirella Dottori at the University of Wollongong. FXS is the most common known genetic cause of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. Inaccessibility to developing human brain cells is a major barrier to studying FXS. To overcome this, the group will use cell reprogramming technology to turn skin cells from FXS patients into brain cells. They will study the development of FXS brain cells and investigate whether they exhibit differences in the expression of genes and proteins associated with development, and impaired function compared to normal brain cells. This project will establish a human model of FXS and enhance our understanding of FXS pathogenesis.
The Neural Reprogramming and Repair Group has also received a Grant-in-Aid from the Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust of $13,000 to investigate the potential for direct cell reprogramming to generate a viable cell source for cell replacement therapy for the treatment of Huntington’s disease.